Under the tree where this pastime of the Lord took place..............

The Chida-dadhi Mahotsav, also known as the Chipped Rice Festival of Panihati, is a yearly celebration of the pastimes of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. This astonishing pastime took place on the banks of the Ganges at Panihati, which is just north of Calcutta. Lord Caitanya and his associates enjoyed many transcendental pastimes here. Chida-dadhi Mahotsav remembers how the Lord mercifully reciprocated with His devotees by arranging, through Nityananda Prabhu and Raghunatha dasa, to provide an ecstatic feast of yoghurt and chipped rice, along with various other nectar foodstuffs. Linked below is an excerpt from Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya lila chapter 6, which describes this wonderful pastime in detail.

The chipped rice festival took place just before the monsoons, when it is very hot (45 - 50 C) and muggy (80 - 90 % humidity), so naturally the most cooling of foodstuffs were offered. Cool yoghurt (dadhi) and chipped rice (chida) were offered with sugar, bananas, milk sweets and cakes.

Our feast menu begins with Ganges Curd Upma, a moist and delicious preparation of vegetables and grain. Before offering, a flavorful stream of yoghurt is poured around the base of the Upma, in honor of the festival goers who had to stand in the Ganges to enjoy their prasadam because there was no room left on the river banks.

A light and simple Cracked Urad Dal is offered, with a side of Banana Chapatis drenched in Orange Cardamom Butter. A sumptuously rich Cauliflower & Red Pepper Sabji is simple to make, and brings smiles to the devotees.

A dry curry of Peas and Paneer is stuffed in a hollow Lemon, which adds nice flavor to the preparation. Rava Idli is a savory cake that goes nicely with the Aloo Kerala Fry, a spicy fried patty of potato and bitter melon.

Nestled amongst the whites of rice and yoghurt is a delightful Stuffed White Baby Eggplant which is filled with spiced almond butter, then wrapped together with lemongrass and baked.

Another pungent savory is the Baigan Sarson, a treat of diced eggplant wrapped in mustard greens, then crispy fried in ghee. Roasted Okra Raita provides a smooth and mellow touch with the spicy dishes, while the Rhubard & Dried Cherry Chutney adds a tangy flavor to the Idli and savouries.

The nectar preparations from the original Chida-dadhi festival are, we hope, faithfully represented by Chida-dadhi Pots. These two wonderful sweet rices are served in traditional clay bowls. In one pot, chipped rice is prepared in sweet yoghurt with bananas, while the second pot contains rice in a sweet, thick kheer with ghee, bananas and camphor.

A milksweet cake, the Gunja-Mala Malpoori is encircled with fresh red and black berries, reminiscent of the garland Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave Raghunatha das to wear around his neck.

Srila Raghunatha dasa gave up eating all foodstuffs after the departure from this world of Srila Sanatana, and from that time on Raghunatha would only take buttermilk in leaf cups. He continued in this way until the departure of Rupa Gosvami, after which Raghunatha gave up all eating and drinking. In honor of this topmost associate of the Lord, we offer Banana Leaf Cups of Buttermilk

The feast is complete with a tart Lime Cooler blending honey, ginger and anise that would surely please all those sitting in the Panihati sun, on the banks of Ganga-Ma.

Where is Panihati? Panihati is located on the banks of the Ganges 10 miles North of Calcutta (North 24-Parganas north of modern day Kolkata - Calcutta), in West Bengal India. It is the site of many wonderful spiritual pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His close personal associates. In this region at this time of year June, pre-monsoon it is so hot, often up in the mid-to-high 40s C (45 - 50 C), and so humid. The most cooling of foods in such a temperature is yogurt, cool yogurt (dahi or dadhi or doi) This pastime of the Lord is about how the devotees pleased Lord Chaitanya and how the Lord reciprocated with the devotees in a very wonderful and pleasing festival called the Panihati Cida-dadhi mahotsav.

In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with Nityananda Prabhu who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants and others. Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityananda seemed as effulgent as hundreds and thousands of rising suns. Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa was astonished. Raghunatha dasa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunatha dasa, offering You obeisances."

Hearing this, Lord Nityananda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you," the Lord called him, but Raghunatha dasa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head. "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.

Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk. sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and ether eatables and placed them all around. As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people. Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round pots. He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lard Nityananda.

In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas. The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as canpa-kala. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added. After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth far a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.

On that platform all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as well as ether important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord. Among them were Ramadasa, Sundarananda, Gadadhara dasa, Murari, Kamalakara, Sadasiva and Purandara. Dhananjaya, Jagadisa, Paramesvara dasa, Mahesa, Gauridas and Hoda Krsnadasa were also there, Similarly, Uddharana Datta Thakura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityananda Prabhu. No one could count them all.

Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas and priests went there, Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him. Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk and in the ether chipped rice with yogurt. All the other People sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were. Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots, one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.

Some of the brahmanas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there. Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice. Thus some sat on the platform ,some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.

At that time, Raghava Pandita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise. He brought many other kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered them to the Lord. This prasada he first placed before Lord Nityananda and then distributed among the devotees. Raghava Pandita said to Lord Nityananda, "For You, sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."

Lord Nityananda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night. I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river. Lord Nityananda made Raghava Pandita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.

When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityananda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived, Lord Nityananda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk. From each and every pot, Lord Nityananda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a joke. In this way Lord Nityananda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaisnavas standing there were seeing the fun.

No one could understand what Nityananda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also present. Then Nityananda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy. Lord Nityananda offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a place and had Him sit dawn. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice. Seeing Cord Caitanya Mahaprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityananda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love. Lord Nityananda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari. Immediately the holy names "Hari Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.

When all the Vaisnavas were chanting the holy names "Hari Hari" and eating, they remembered how Krsna and Balarama ate with their companions, the cowherd boys, on the bank of the Yamuna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunatha dasa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings. Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges. All the confidential devotees who were Cowherd boys, headed by Sri Ramadas, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamuna.

When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas. As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunatha dasa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food. Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas. After Lord Nityananda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunatha dasa the food remaining in the four pots. There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityananda, and a brahmana distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each. Then a brahmanas brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityananda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp All over His body, When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityananda, the Lord smiled and chewed them. With His own hands Lord Nityananda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained

After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates. Thus have I described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.

A summary of this chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura in his Amåta-praväha-bhäñya as follows. When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu went into transcendental fits of ecstatic love, Rämänanda Räya and Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé attended to Him and satisfied Him as He desired. Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé had been attempting to come to the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu for a long time, and finally he left his home and met the Lord. When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu had gone to Çäntipura on His way to Våndävana, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé had offered to dedicate his life at the Lord’s lotus feet. in the meantime, however, a Mohammedan official became envious of Hiraëya däsa, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé’s uncle, and induced some big official court minister to have him arrested. Thus Hiraëya däsa left his home, but by the intelligence of Raghunätha däsa the misunderstanding was mitigated. Then Raghunätha däsa went to Pänihäöi, and, following the order of Nityänanda Prabhu, he observed a festival (ciòä-dadhi-mahotsava) by distributing chipped rice mixed with yogurt. The day after the festival, Nityänanda Prabhu gave Raghunätha däsa the blessing that he would very soon attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. After this incident, Raghunätha däsa, with the help of his priest, whose name was Yadunandana Äcärya, got out of his house by trickery and thus ran away. Not touching the general path, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé secretly went to Jagannätha Puré. After twelve days, he arrived in Jagannätha Puré at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu entrusted Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé to Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé. Therefore another name for Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé is Svarüpera Raghu, or the Raghunätha of Svarüpa Dämodara. For five days Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé took prasäda at the temple, but later he would stand at the Siàha-dvära gate and eat only whatever he could gather by alms. Later he lived by taking alms from various chatras, or food distributing centers. When Raghunätha’s father received news of this, he sent some men and money, but Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé refused to accept the money. Understanding that Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé was living by begging from the chatras, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu presented him with His own guïjä-mälä and a stone from Govardhana Hill. Thereafter, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé used to eat rejected food that he had collected and washed. This renounced life greatly pleased bothSvarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé and Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. One day Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu took by force some of the same food, thus blessing Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé for his renunciation..Antya 6.35TRANSLATIONIn this way Raghunätha däsa passed one year exactly like a first-class business manager, but the next year he again decided to leave home..Antya 6.36rätre uöhi’ ekelä calilä paläïädüra haite pitä täìre änila dhariyä.TRANSLATIONHe got up alone one night and left, but his father caught him in a distant place and brought him back..Antya 6.37ei-mate bäre bäre paläya, dhari’ änetabe täìra mätä kahe täìra pitä sane.TRANSLATIONThis became almost a daily affair. Raghunätha would run away from home, and his father would again bring him back. Then Raghunätha däsa’s mother began speaking to his father..Antya 6.38 “putra bätula’ ha-ila, ihäya räkhaha bändhiyä”täìra pitä kahe täre nirviëëa haïä.TRANSLATION“Our son has become mad,” she said. “Just keep him by binding him with ropes.” His father, being very unhappy, replied to her as follows..Antya 6.39 “indra-sama aiçvarya, stré apsarä-samae saba bändhite närileka yäìra mana.TRANSLATION“Raghunätha däsa, our son, has opulences like Indra, the heavenly King, and his wife is as beautiful as an angel. Yet all this could not tie down his mind..Antya 6.40daòira bandhane täìre räkhibä ke-mate?janma-dätä-pitä näre ‘prärabdha’ khaëòäite.TRANSLATION“How then could we keep this boy home by binding him with ropes? It is not possible even for one’s father to nullify the reactions of one’s past activities..Antya 6.41caitanya-candrera kåpä haïäche iìhärecaitanya-candrera ‘bätula’ ke räkhite päre?”.TRANSLATION“Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on him. Who can keep home such a madman of Caitanyacandra?”.Antya 6.42tabe raghunätha kichu vicärilä manenityänanda-gosäïira päça calilä ära dine.TRANSLATIONThen Raghunätha däsa considered something in his mind, and the next day he went to Nityänanda Gosäïi..Antya 6.43pänihäöi-gräme päilä prabhura daraçanakértanéyä sevaka saìge ära bahu-jana.TRANSLATIONIn the village of Pänihäöi, Raghunätha däsa obtained an interview with Nityänanda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kértana performers, servants and others..Antya 6.44gaìgä-tére våkña-müle piëòära uparevasiyachena——yena koöé süryodaya kare.TRANSLATIONSitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityänanda seemed as effulgent as hundreds and thousands of rising suns..Antya 6.45tale upare bahu-bhakta haïäche veñöitadekhi’ prabhura prabhäva raghunätha——vismita.TRANSLATIONMany devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityänanda Prabhu, Raghunätha däsa was astonished..Antya 6.46daëòavat haïä sei paòilä kata-düresevaka kahe,——‘raghunätha daëòavat kare’.TRANSLATIONRaghunätha däsa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityänanda Prabhu pointed out, “There is Raghunätha däsa, offering You obeisances.”.Antya 6.47çuni’ prabhu kahe,——“corä dili daraçanaäya, äya, äji tora karimu daëòana”.TRANSLATIONHearing this, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu said,“You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!”.Antya 6.48prabhu boläya, teìho nikaöe nä kare gamanaäkarñiyä täìra mäthe prabhu dharilä caraëa.TRANSLATIONThe Lord called him, but Raghunätha däsa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunätha däsa’s head..Antya 6.49kautuké nityänanda sahaje dayämayaraghunäthe kahe kichu haïä sadaya.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunätha däsa as follows..Antya 6.50 “nikaöe nä äisa, corä, bhäga’ düre düreäji läg päïächi, daëòimu tomäre.TRANSLATION“You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you..Antya 6.51dadhi, ciòä bhakñaëa karäha mora gaëe”çuni’ änandita haila raghunätha mane.TRANSLATION“Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.” Hearing this, Raghunätha däsa was greatly pleased..Antya 6.52sei-kñaëe nija-loka päöhäilä grämebhakñya-dravya loka saba gräma haite äne.TRANSLATIONRaghunätha däsa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back..Antya 6.53ciòä, dadhi, dugdha, sandeça, ära cini, kaläsaba dravya änäïä caudike dharilä.TRANSLATIONRaghunätha däsa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around..Antya 6.54 ‘mahotsava’-näma çuni’ brähmaëa-sajjanaäsite lägila loka asaìkhya-gaëana.TRANSLATIONAs soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brähmaëas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people..Antya 6.55ära grämäntara haite sämagré änilaçata dui-cäri holnä täìhä änäila.TRANSLATIONSeeing the crowd increasing, Raghunätha däsa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round earthen pots..Antya 6.56baòa baòa måt-kuëòikä änäila päìca säteeka vipra prabhu lägi’ ciòä bhijäya täte.TRANSLATIONHe also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brähmaëa began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityänanda..Antya 6.57.eka-öhäïi tapta-dugdhe ciòä bhijäïäardheka chänila dadhi, cini, kalä diyä.TRANSLATIONIn one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas..Antya 6.58ära ardheka ghanävåta-dugdhete chänilacäìpä-kalä, cini, ghåta, karpüra täte dila.TRANSLATIONThe other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as cäìpä-kalä. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added..Antya 6.59dhuti pari’ prabhu yadi piëòäte vasiläsäta-kuëòé vipra täìra ägete dharilä.TRANSLATIONAfter Nityänanda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brähmaëa brought before Him the seven huge pots..Antya 6.60cabutarä-upare yata prabhura nija-gaëebaòa baòa loka vasilä maëòalé-racane.TRANSLATIONOn that platform, all the most important associates of Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord..Antya 6.61rämadäsa, sundaränanda, däsa-gadädharamuräri, kamaläkara, sadäçiva, purandara.TRANSLATIONAmong them were Rämadäsa, Sundaränanda, Gadädhara däsa, Muräri, Kamaläkara, Sadäçiva and Purandara.Antya 6.62dhanaïjaya, jagadéça, parameçvara-däsamaheça, gaurédäsa, hoòa-kåñëadäsa.TRANSLATIONDhanaïjaya, Jagadéça, Parameçvara däsa, Maheça, Gaurédäsa and Hoòa Kåñëadäsa were also there..Antya 6.63.uddhäraëa datta ädi yata nija-gaëaupare vasilä saba, ke kare gaëana?.TRANSLATIONSimilarly, Uddhäraëa Datta Öhäkura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityänanda Prabhu. No one could count them all.PURPORTThe devotees mentioned herein are described by Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura in his Anubhäñya. For further information one may consult the following references in the Ädi-lélä. Rämadäsa—Chapter Ten, texts 116 and 118, and Chapter Eleven, texts 13 and 16. Sundaränanda—11.23, Gadädhara däsa—10.53, His full name is Muräri Caitanya däsa, and he is a personal associate of Nityänanda Prabhu. Thus one should consult Chapter Eleven, text 20. Kamaläkara—11.24. Sadäçiva—11.38. Purandara—11.28. Dhanaïjaya—11.31. Jagadéça—11.30. Parameçvara—11.29. Maheça—11.32. Gaurédäsa—11.26. Hoòa Kåñëadäsa—11.47. Uddhäraëa Datta Öhäkura—11.41..Antya 6.64çuni’ paëòita bhaööäcärya yata vipra äilämänya kari’ prabhu sabäre upare vasäilä.TRANSLATIONHearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brähmaëas and priests went there. Lord Nityänanda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him..Antya 6.65dui dui måt-kuëòikä sabära äge dilaeke dugdha-ciòä, äre dadhi-ciòä kaila.TRANSLATIONEveryone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk and in the other chipped rice with yogurt..Antya 6.66ära yata loka saba cotarä-talänemaëòalé-bandhe vasilä, tära nä haya gaëane.TRANSLATIONAll the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were..Antya 6.67ekeka janäre dui dui holnä diladadhi-ciòä dugdha-ciòä, duite bhijäila.TRANSLATIONEach and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots—one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk..Antya 6.68kona kona vipra upare sthäna nä päïädui holnäya ciòä bhijäya gaìgä-tére giyä.TRANSLATIONSome of the brähmaëas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there..Antya 6.69tére sthäna nä päïä ära kata janajale nämi’ dadhi-ciòä karaye bhakñaëa.TRANSLATIONOthers, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice..Antya 6.70keha upare, keha tale, keha gaìgä-térebiça-jana tina-öhäïi pariveçana kare.TRANSLATIONThus some sat on the platform, some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food..Antya 6.71hena-käle äilä tathä räghava paëòitahäsite lägilä dekhi’ haïä vismita.TRANSLATIONAt that time, Räghava Paëòita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise..Antya 6.72ni-sakòi nänä-mata prasäda änilaprabhure äge diyä bhakta-gaëe bäìöi dila.TRANSLATIONHe brought many other kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This prasäda he first placed before Lord Nityänanda and then distributed among the devotees..Antya 6.73prabhure kahe,——“tomä lägi’ bhoga lägäilatumi ihäì utsava kara, ghare prasäda rahila”.TRANSLATIONRäghava Paëòita said to Lord Nityänanda, “For You, sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched.”

Antya 6.74prabhu kahe,——“e-dravya dine kariye bhojanarätrye tomära ghare prasäda karimu bhakñaëa.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda replied, “Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night..Antya 6.75gopa-jäti ämi bahu gopa-gaëa saìgeämi sukha päi ei pulina-bhojana-raìge”.TRANSLATION“I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river.”.Antya 6.76räghave vasäïä dui kuëòé deoyäiläräghava dvividha ciòä täte bhijäilä.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda made Räghava Paëòita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them..Antya 6.77sakala-lokera ciòä pürëa yabe ha-iladhyäne tabe prabhu mahäprabhure änila.TRANSLATIONWhen chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Antya 6.78mahäprabhu äilä dekhi’ nitäi uöhilätäìre laïä sabära ciòä dekhite lägilä.TRANSLATIONWhen Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu arrived, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk..Antya 6.79sakala kuëòéra, holnära ciòära eka eka gräsamahäprabhura mukhe dena kari’ parihäsa.TRANSLATIONFrom each and every pot, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu as a joke..Antya 6.80häsi’ mahäprabhu ära eka gräsa laïätäìra mukhe diyä khäoyäya häsiyä häsiyä.TRANSLATIONÇré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, also smiling, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityänanda and laughed as He made Lord Nityänanda eat it..Antya 6.81ei-mata nitäi bule sakala maëòaledäëòäïä raìga dekhe vaiñëava sakale.TRANSLATIONIn this way Lord Nityänanda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaiñëavas standing there were seeing the fun..Antya 6.82ki kariyä beòäya,——ihä keha nähi jänemahäprabhura darçana pä ya kona bhägyaväne.TRANSLATIONNo one could understand what Nityänanda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was also present..Antya 6.83tabe häsi’ nityänanda vasilä äsanecäri kuëòé äroyä ciòä räkhilä òähine.TRANSLATIONThen Nityänanda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy..Antya 6.84äsana diyä mahäprabhure tähäì vasäilädui bhäi tabe ciòä khäite lägilä.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda offered Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice..Antya 6.85dekhi’ nityänanda-prabhu änandita hailäkata kata bhäväveça prakäça karilä.TRANSLATIONSeeing Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love..Antya 6.86äjïä dilä,——‘hari bali’ karaha bhojana’‘hari’ ‘hari’-dhvani uöhi’ bharila bhuvana.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda Prabhu ordered,“All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari.” Immediately the holy names “Hari, Hari” resounded, filling the entire universe..Antya 6.87 ‘hari’ ‘hari’ bali’ vaiñëava karaye bhojanapulina-bhojana sabära ha-ila smaraëa.TRANSLATIONWhen all the Vaiñëavas were chanting the holy names“Hari, Hari” and eating, they remembered how Kåñëa and Balaräma ate with Their companions the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamunä..Antya 6.88nityänanda mahäprabhu——kåpälu, udäraraghunäthera bhägye eta kailä aìgékära.TRANSLATIONÇré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Nityänanda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunätha däsa’s good fortune that They accepted all these dealings..Antya 6.89nityänanda-prabhäva-kåpä jänibe kon jana?mahäprabhu äni’ karä ya pulina-bhojana.TRANSLATIONWho can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges..Antya 6.90çré-rämadäsädi gopa premäviñöa hailägaìgä-tére ‘yamunä-pulina’ jïäna kailä.TRANSLATIONAll the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Çré Rämadäsa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamunä..Antya 6.91mahotsava çuni’ pasäri nänä-gräma haiteciòä, dadhi, sandeça, kalä änila vecite.TRANSLATIONWhen the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas..Antya 6.92yata dravya laïä äise, saba mülya kari’ layatära dravya mülya diyä tähäre khäoyäya.TRANSLATIONAs they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunätha däsa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food..Antya 6.93kautuka dekhite äila yata yata janasei ciòä, dadhi, kalä karila bhakñaëa.TRANSLATIONAnyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas..Antya 6.94bhojana kari’ nityänanda äcamana kailäcäri kuëòéra avaçeña raghunäthe dilä.TRANSLATIONAfter Lord Nityänanda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunätha däsa the food remaining in the four pots..Antya 6.95ära tina kuëòikäya avaçeña chilagräse-gräse kari’ vipra saba bhakte dila.TRANSLATIONThere was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityänanda, and a brähmaëa distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each..Antya 6.96puñpa-mälä vipra äni’ prabhu-gale dilacandana äniyä prabhura sarväìge lepila.TRANSLATIONThen a brähmaëa brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityänanda Prabhu’s neck and smeared sandalwood pulp all over His body..Antya 6.97sevaka tämbüla laïä kare samarpaëahäsiyä häsiyä prabhu karaye carvaëa.TRANSLATIONWhen a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityänanda, the Lord smiled and chewed them..Antya 6.98mälä-candana-tämbüla çeña ye ächilaçré-haste prabhu tähä sabäkäre bäìöi’ dila.TRANSLATIONWith His own hands Lord Nityänanda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained..Antya 6.99änandita raghunätha prabhura ‘çeña, päïääpanära gaëa-saha khäilä bäìtiyä.TRANSLATIONAfter receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, Raghunätha däsa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates..Antya 6.100ei ta’ kahiluì nityänandera vihära‘ciòä-dadhi-mahotsava’-näme khyäti yära.TRANSLATIONThus I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt..Antya 6.101prabhu viçräma kailä, yadi dina-çeña hailaräghava-mandire tabe kértana ärambhila.TRANSLATIONNityänanda Prabhu rested for the day, and when the day ended He went to the temple of Räghava Paëòita and began congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord..Antya 6.102bhakta saba näcäïä nityänanda-räyaçeñe nåtya kare preme jagat bhäsäya.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love..Antya 6.103mahäprabhu täìra nåtya karena daraçanasabe nityänanda dekhe, nä dekhe anya-jana.TRANSLATIONLord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was observing the dancing of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu. Nityänanda Prabhu could see this, but the others could not..Antya 6.104nityänandera nåtya,——yena täìhära nartaneupamä dibära nähi e-tina bhuvane.TRANSLATIONThe dancing of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, like the dancing of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds..Antya 6.105nåtyera mädhuré kebä varëibäre päremahäprabhu äise yei nåtya dekhibäre.TRANSLATIONNo one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityänanda’s dancing. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu personally comes to see it..Antya 6.106nåtya kari’ prabhu yabe viçräma kariläbhojanera lägi’ paëòita nivedana kailä.TRANSLATIONAfter the dancing and after Lord Nityänanda had rested, Räghava Paëòita submitted his request that the Lord take supper..Antya 6.107bhojane vasilä prabhu nija-gaëa laïämahäprabhura äsana òähine pätiyä.TRANSLATIONLord Nityänanda Prabhu sat down for supper with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Antya 6.108mahäprabhu äsi’ sei äsane vasiladekhi’ räghavera mane änanda bäòila.TRANSLATIONÇré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came there and sat down at His place. Seeing this, Räghava Paëòita felt increasing happiness. Räghava Paëòita felt increasing happiness..Antya 6.109dui-bhäi-äge prasäda äniyä dhariläsakala vaiñëave piche pariveçana kailä.TRANSLATIONRäghava Paëòita brought the prasäda before the two brothers and thereafter distributed prasäda to all the other Vaiñëavas..Antya 6.110nänä-prakära piöhä, päyasa, divya çälyannaamåta nindaye aiche vividha vyaïjana.TRANSLATIONThere were varieties of cakes, sweet rice and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of nectar. There were also varieties of vegetables..Antya 6.111räghava-öhäkurera prasäda amåtera säramahäprabhu yähä khäite äise bära bära.TRANSLATIONThe food prepared and offered to the Deity by Räghava Paëòita was like the essence of nectar. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasäda..Antya 6.112päka kari’ räghava yabe bhoga lägäyamahäprabhura lägi’ bhoga påthak bäòaya.TRANSLATIONWhen Räghava Paëòita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make a separate offering for Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Antya 6.113prati-dina mahäprabhu karena bhojanamadhye madhye prabhu täìre dena daraçana.TRANSLATIONEvery day, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu would eat at the house of Räghava Paëòita. Sometimes He would give Räghava Paëòita the opportunity to see Him..Antya 6.114dui bhäire räghava äni’ pariveçeyatna kari’ khäoyäya, nä rahe avaçeñe.TRANSLATIONRäghava Paëòita would bring and distribute prasäda to the two brothers, feeding Them with great attention. They ate everything, and therefore there were no remnants left..Antya 6.115kata upahära äne, hena nähi jäniräghavera ghare rändhe rädhä-öhäkuräëé.TRANSLATIONHe brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Rädhäräëé, personally cooked in the house of Räghava Paëòita..Antya 6.116durväsära öhäïi teìho päïächena varaamåta ha-ite päka täìra adhika madhura.TRANSLATIONÇrématé Rädhäräëé received from Durväsä Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. (Gopal Champu) That is the special feature of Her cooking..Antya 6.117sugandhi sundara prasäda——mädhuryera säradui bhäi tähä khäïä santoña apära.TRANSLATIONAromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, ate it with great satisfaction..Antya 6.118bhojane vasite raghunäthe kahe sarva-janapaëòita kahe,——iìha päche karibe bhojana’.TRANSLATIONAll the devotees present requested Raghunätha däsa to sit down and take prasäda, but Räghava Paëòita told them,“He will take prasäda later.”.Antya 6.119bhakta-gaëa äkaëöha bhariyä karila bhojana‘hari’ dhvani kari’ uöhi’ kailä äcamana.TRANSLATIONAll the devotees took prasäda, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths..Antya 6.120bhojana kari’ dui bhäi kailä äcamanaräghava äni’ paräilä mälya-candana.TRANSLATIONAfter eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Räghava Paëòita brought fIower garlands and sandalwood pulp and decorated Them..Antya 6.121biòä khäoyäilä, kailä caraëa vandanabhakta-gaëe dilä biòä, mälya-candana.TRANSLATIONRäghava Paëòita offered Them betel nuts and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also distributed betel nuts, flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to the devotees..Antya 6.122räghavera kåpä raghunäthera uparedui bhäiera avaçiñöa pätra dilä täìre.TRANSLATIONRäghava Paëòita, being very merciful toward Raghunätha däsa, offered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers..Antya 6.123kahilä,——“caitanya gosäïi kariyächena bhojanatäìra çeña päile, tomära khaëòila bandhana”.TRANSLATIONHe said, “Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of your family.”.Antya 6.124bhakta-citte bhakta-gåhe sadä avasthänakabhu gupta, kabhu vyakta, svatantra bhagavän.TRANSLATIONThe Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent..Antya 6.125sarvatra ‘vyäpaka’ prabhura sadä sarvatra väsaihäte saàçaya yära, sei yäya näça.TRANSLATIONThe Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive, and therefore He resides everywhere. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated..Antya 6.126präte nityänanda prabhu gaìgä-snäna kariyäsei våkña-müle vasilä nija-gaëa laïä.TRANSLATIONIn the morning, after taking His bath in the Ganges, Nityänanda Prabhu sat down with His associates beneath the same tree under which He had previously sat..Antya 6.127raghunätha äsi’ kailä caraëa vandanaräghava-paëòita-dvärä kailä nivedana.TRANSLATIONRaghunätha däsa went there and worshiped Lord Nityänanda’s lotus feet. Through Räghava Paëòita, he submitted his desire..Antya 6.128 “adhama, pämara mui héna jévädhama!mora icchä haya——päìa caitanya-caraëa.TRANSLATION“I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Antya 6.129vämana haïä yena cända dharibäre cäyaaneka yatna kainu, täte kabhu siddha naya.TRANSLATION“Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have never been successful..Antya 6.130yata-bära paläi ämi gåhädi chädiyäpitä, mätä——dui more räkhaye bändhiyä.TRANSLATION“Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother unfortunately kept me bound.

Antya 6.131tomära kåpä vinä keha ‘caitanya’ nä päyatumi kåpä kaile täìre adhameha päya.TRANSLATION“No one can attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men ca attain shelter at His lotus feet..Antya 6.132ayogya mui nivedana karite kari bhayamore ‘caitanya’ deha’ gosäïi haïä sadaya.TRANSLATION“Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Antya 6.133mora mäthe pada dhari’ karaha prasädanirvighne caitanya päìa——kara äçérväda”.TRANSLATION“Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction.”.Antya 6.134çuni’ häsi’ kahe prabhu saba bhakta-gaëe“ihära viñaya-sukha——indra-sukha-sama.TRANSLATIONAfter hearing this appeal by Raghunätha däsa, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu smiled and told all the devotees, “Raghunätha däsa’s standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven..Antya 6.135caitanya-kåpäte seha nähi bhäya manesabe äçérväda kara——päuka caitanya-caraëe.TRANSLATION“Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Raghunätha däsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all. Therefore let every one of you be merciful toward him and give him the benediction that he may very soon attain shelter at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..Antya 6.136kåñëa-päda-padma-gandha yei jana päyabrahmaloka-ädi-sukha täìre nähi bhäya”.TRANSLATION“One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa does not even value the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness?.

“Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus He is known as Uttamaçloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Lord Kåñëa, King Bharata, although in the prime of youth, gave up his very attractive wife, affectionate children, most beloved friends and opulent kingdom, exactly as one gives up stool after excreting it.’ ”

“Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu will accept you and place you under the charge of His secretary, Svarüpa Dämodara. You will thus become one of the most confidential internal servants and will attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu..